Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought I'd do a modest birthday party for DD turning 6. Not like our friends throwing thousand dollar parties with open bar and costumed characters entertainment.

$250 - booking a 3 hour pool party at the local, very nice YMCA facility.
$100 - I'm spending on paper plates, table cloths, hanging decorations,

When I order cake and buy all the food I'll add another $100.

Birthday presents will be another $100 - 150.

So the birthday is going to cost us about $500 at the end of the day. Isn't that crazy?

there are open bars at kids birthday parties???

and by "costume characters," OP, you mean strippers?

Yeah, having a birthday party at any facility is relatively expensive. We did a pool party at our country rec center, and it was around $100 cheaper than what the Y quoted you. We could definitely have a party at our house for somewhat less, but DH doesn't want a lot of kids and mess there, so I'd rather pay the $150 for the rec center than deal with his griping.

Anonymous wrote:Birthday parties can be super cheap or super expensive. Ive done them both ways according to various life circumstances. I agree decorations are stupid. Buy paper plates and maybe forks. If you have items like pizza, juice boxes/bottled, and cupcakes you don't really need additional things like cups or bowls or anything. Also I don't buy my kids presents on years they are having a "kids party." The party IS their presents from DH and I. They never care because all the kids bring presents so they are overwhelmed/joyed regardless. There is a lot of these expenses that are far in your control.

I have never found that there is truly a "super cheap" birthday party for a group of kids. Even just one or two kids, and you can easily get to $100 or $150. Example - taking your kid plus two friends to the movies. That's 4 movie tickets right there, then you by snacks at the movie and then to celebrate go for ice cream or dinner afterward. Even if you pick casual fast food, you are now at $100.

Doing it at home isn't really cheaper even if you host something small. Do the food, do the plates, etc. get an activity to do during the party - it all adds up. Just buying a bunch of pizzas can easily be $30+.

So yes, parties are really expensive in this area even for the basic ones.

Never be shocked by how much you CAN end up spending on something in DC.

Birthday parties can be super cheap or super expensive. Ive done them both ways according to various life circumstances. I agree decorations are stupid. Buy paper plates and maybe forks. If you have items like pizza, juice boxes/bottled, and cupcakes you don't really need additional things like cups or bowls or anything. Also I don't buy my kids presents on years they are having a "kids party." The party IS their presents from DH and I. They never care because all the kids bring presents so they are overwhelmed/joyed regardless. There is a lot of these expenses that are far in your control.

Anonymous wrote:I thought I'd do a modest birthday party for DD turning 6. Not like our friends throwing thousand dollar parties with open bar and costumed characters entertainment.

$250 - booking a 3 hour pool party at the local, very nice YMCA facility.
$100 - I'm spending on paper plates, table cloths, hanging decorations,

When I order cake and buy all the food I'll add another $100.

Birthday presents will be another $100 - 150.

So the birthday is going to cost us about $500 at the end of the day. Isn't that crazy?

there are open bars at kids birthday parties???

Have the party at home instead of booking an offsite location. Make you own cake. Limit decorations. It can be done for less.

These are all choices, OP. No one really needs to do any of this.

Anonymous wrote:The expenses are outrageous, what you are choosing to spend is outrageous.

Skip decorations, buy generic plates, get cupcakes, why so much on gifts for your own kid (and please don't bring them to the party, everyone knows it is only so you can show off the gifts)

Should be

The expenses aren't outrageous, what you are choosing to spend is outrageous.

The expenses are outrageous, what you are choosing to spend is outrageous.

Skip decorations, buy generic plates, get cupcakes, why so much on gifts for your own kid (and please don't bring them to the party, everyone knows it is only so you can show off the gifts)

I buy no decor. Ever. I may stop at dollar tree and get 4-5 mylar balloons for a dollar each if I need to "mark" the party cite. Drop the decor.

That's crazy. Buy a small set of balloons for decorations. Buy a couple of bolts of cloth for table cloths. Have it in your backyard. Why would you spend $150 on presents? Buy one $25 present. If you're having a party the child is going to get other presents.

I thought I'd do a modest birthday party for DD turning 6. Not like our friends throwing thousand dollar parties with open bar and costumed characters entertainment.

$250 - booking a 3 hour pool party at the local, very nice YMCA facility.
$100 - I'm spending on paper plates, table cloths, hanging decorations,

When I order cake and buy all the food I'll add another $100.

Birthday presents will be another $100 - 150.

So the birthday is going to cost us about $500 at the end of the day. Isn't that crazy?